The Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film, hosted annually at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is dedicated to celebrating and promoting the works of Black and independent filmmakers.
At its core, the festival serves to illuminate the multifaceted narratives within the Black diaspora. The curated selection of films encompasses a wide range of genres, including documentaries, narrative features, short films, and experimental projects. These cinematic creations delve deep into the realms of African American history, culture, contemporary issues, and the broader global Black experience.
A distinctive feature of the Diaspora Festival is its commitment to fostering meaningful dialogues. In addition to screenings, the Diaspora Festival hosts illuminating discussions, panels, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals. This interaction not only enhances the audience's understanding of the creative process but also offers a unique opportunity to delve into the stories portrayed on screen.
Throughout its existence, the Festival has played a pivotal role in spotlighting underrepresented voices in cinema, forging connections within the Black filmmaking community, and facilitating a deeper understanding of Black culture and history through the lens of independent cinema. It continues to stand as a vibrant cultural forum, bridging the worlds of film, art, and education while celebrating the diverse stories and experiences of the Black diaspora.
The 2024 edition of the Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film features the following screening lineup and schedule:
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Opening Night: September 26 | 6:00PM | Varsity Theater
SACRED AXA
Dir.: LeRhonda S. Manigault-Bryant | USA 2024 | Short Doc. | 4 Min
A visual love letter tells the story of an island that harbors sacred possibility
ARTE CONGO…ARTISTS JOURNEY ON THE CONGO COAST OF PANAMÁ
Dir.: Arturo Lindsay | USA/Panama 2024 | Documentary | 60 Min
The documentary film chronicles the journeys of seven artists on a mission to research, preserve and promote Congo culture in the Republic of Panama thru works of art. The Congos of Panama are descendants of Africans that escaped enslavement during the colonial period.
October 3 | 7:00PM | Hitchcock Room | Co-sponsored by UNC Black Alumni Reunion
A TIME TO YELL: MORE THAN A STATUE
Feat. a post-screening Q&A and discussion with filmmakers.
Dir.: Eric W. Newman & Daniel B. Levin | USA 2024 | 68 Mins
We have all seen the violence and despicable rhetoric that came out of the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12th, 2017. But if you think you know how we got there and what happened that day, think again. “A Time to Yell: More Than a Statue” is the untold story from Charlottesville community members who experienced these monumental events firsthand.
Community Screening: October 10 | 6:30PM | Provident1898, 411 W Chapel Hill, C2 , Durham NC
TRAIL THERAPY
Dir.: Angela Hollowell | USA 2024 | Doc. Short | 11 Mins
When Sharon Mosley received a wake-up call from her doctor in her mid-30s - a high blood pressure diagnosis - she made the audacious decision to train for a sprint triathlon. She's now training for her next race, the Tar Heel 10-miler, 11 years after her first appearance. Will she beat her earlier pace? In this documentary short film, we invite audiences on an intimate journey of transformation, exploring the life of Sharon Mosley, a black woman therapist and runner, who has redefined her relationship with health.
ECHOES UNHEARD
Dir: J'sha Gift | USA 2024 | Doc Short | 8 Min
An entrepreneur and a professor fight to keep the legacy of the nation’s largest Black-owned life insurance company. Synopsis: Entrepreneur Carl Webb and North Carolina Central University Professor Dr. Kimberly Moore unite in this expository film to protect the legacy of N.C. Mutual, the largest Black-owned life insurance company. Together, they champion the company's dream of reshaping perceptions of success through economic progress.
October 15 | 12:15PM | Hitchcock Room
I AM MORE DANGEROUS DEAD
Dir.: Majiye Uchibeke | USA 2022 | Doc. | 24 Min
Dir.: The story of a man largely unknown in the west, but who is a household name and hero to Nigerians. Ken Saro Wiwa was a prolific writer and activist who led the ethnic minority of the Ogoni to protest the devastating effects of oil exploitation on their land.
STAND UP, STAND OUT
Dir.: Ronita Awoonor-Gordon | UK 2024 | Short Doc. | 3 Min
When people take to the streets to protest discriminatory and oppressive systems, they often use their bodies to make a statement. To stand up for themselves. This goes beyond just bodies on the streets at protests. The way these people choose to style themselves often drives their cause even further.
OUTCASTED
Dir.: Kayode George | Canada 2024 | Short | 13 Min
A self affirming black actress must face the challenge of auditioning for a breakout role that she is considered too dark for. With her agency on her back and feeling like she isn’t good enough, she must decide whether to challenge the biases of the industry, or lose the spot she has rightfully earned.
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
Dir: Sophia Holt | USA 2024 | Short | 21 Min
Set on a university campus in 1975, this film follows the lives of Q (a Black adoptee), her roommate Jam (the daughter of former Black Panthers), and Marcus (a student who has experienced the school’s discrimination firsthand) as they bond together to form a Black Student Union.
PATIENCE
Dir.: Christopher Kimotek | US 2024 | Short | 17 Min
Malik is a man who will risk anything in pursuit of his true dream. Even with a baby on the way and obligations to school and work, he must take this opportunity no matter what. "Life is a wheel of fortune, and it's my turn to spin it" -Tupac Shakur
October 22 | 6:30PM | Co-sponsored by Black Queer Studies Conference 2025
DRIP LIKE COFFEE (feat. post-screening discussion, Q&A featuring the filmmakers)
Dir.: Anaiis Cisco | USA 2024 | Feature | 91 Min
An unexpected romance evolves between two Brooklyn baristas, Kali, an aspiring coffee professional, and Mel, a budding photographer. As love struggles to find a place in the complicated lives of Kali and Mel, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, exploring their desires without fear of consequence. Fleeing to the outskirts of Brooklyn, they find solace and finally give in to their true desires. With the help of friends, loved ones, and each other, they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship and discover the transformative power of love.
October 29 | 12:15PM | Hitchcock Room
MUSHROOM'S QUEST
Dir.: Dave Johnson | UK 2024 | Short Doc. | 18 Min
A compassionate and determined young woman, embarks on a heartfelt journey across continents to discover her roots. Armed with little more than a dream and a prayer, her story unfolds against a backdrop of hidden truths, unexpected revelations, and unwavering love.
DEAR FRIEND
Dir.: Kyle Schmalenberg | Canada 2024 | Short | 19 Min
Trina, disillusioned with online dating, leaves a heartfelt letter in a book box seeking a genuine connection. Jeff finds the letter, responds, and they exchange anonymous letters, revealing their innermost thoughts and fears. When they agree to meet, Jeff fears Trina will recognize him from a bad dating app encounter. Will honesty and vulnerability be enough to bridge the gap and create a true connection? "Dear Friend" is a heartwarming romantic comedy exploring the power of words and the courage to be one's authentic self in the pursuit of love.
GETCHO
Dir.: Ashley Tyler | USA 2024 | Short | 17 Min
A tightly wound but promising Ivy League graduate has moved back in with her disappointed mother in their section 8 apartment and is forced to babysit a peculiar and precocious child and consequently help him manage his bullies and her own.
IS THERE LIFE AFTER GRIEF?
Dirs.: Saffron Akira King, Duaine Carma Roberts |UK 2024 | Short | 6 Min
A woman discovers that grief is not her enemy but the torch that lightens her path. Is there truly life after grief?
BLACK QUEER FUTURES
Dir.: Louis Femi Adebowale | UK 2024 | Short | 10 Min
Simi is out with their friends when they hear a voice beckoning, calling their name. They follow the voice to find a relic that shows them dozens of holograms of Black Queers living their best lives, and even gets to interact with some of them.
November 7 | 6:30PM | Hitchcock Room
BURNS AND SONG
Dir.: Pamella Tendayi Nyeke | Zimbabwe 2024 | Short |33 Min
RISIMU (Simu for short) is the perfect housewife to Tendero and a doting mother to Nicole. Her peaceful life centers around her family, but Simu has been running from a dark past. It doesn’t matter how far away she got from the village she destroyed; memories of that day ravage her sleep. Recently, her nightmares have seeped into her waking hours. One chaotic morning brings a long-forgotten person back into her life, a vengeful spirit NGOZI she thought she had escaped.
HERE WITHOUT YOU
Dir.: Genesis Nelson | USA 2023 | Short | 5 Min
A young woman struggles with how she really feels about the death of her father.
CHRIS ISN'T CRAZY
Dir: Mackleen Desravines | USA 2022 | Short Feature | 15 Min
Christian Porter, a talented college athlete with a bright future in professional sports, has started exhibiting destructive behavior. His close friends suspect that he may be keeping a secret. Rayne, his best friend, is determined to assist him in overcoming his challenges and avoiding jeopardizing his future, even as she struggles to understand his unpredictable actions.
LETTRE LA
Dir.: Kyvon Edwin | USA 2022 | Short | 12 Min
A heartbroken West-Indian radio host hides his internal trauma from his unsuspecting radio callers as he struggles to heal and restore his peace of mind.
ALWAYS IN MY HEAD
Dir: Jania R. Sanders | US 2024 | Short | 3 Min
After not receiving a text back from her friend, a woman spends every second of her time overthinking about what could go wrong. Her rumination leads to thoughts holding her captive.
LAST PHONE CALL
Dir.: Mackleen Desravines Sparkman | USA/Haiti 2022 | 10 Mins
On the day of her mother’s funeral, a young woman recalls the various phone calls made months before her death, including the last conversation with her mother, who was suffering from dementia.